Educational Outreach

The Kentucky Office of Financial Institutions (OFI) is working to expand its investor/consumer education program. The overall goal is to provide consumers with free practical education materials and free financial workshops to increase the number of consumers taking informed action when managing their financial affairs. The office also partners with other state and national organizations with a goal of providing financial literacy education, such as Jump$tart, the Kentucky Council on Economic Education and others. Approximately $120,000 was paid to investor education organizations in Kentucky in 2006 through settlements between OFI and securities firms.

Free Financial Literacy Curriculums for Teachers
Free Financial Literacy Workshops
Free Investor Education Workshops

OFI offers several free teaching guides to high school educators, as well as interested middle school and college educators. The guides are user-friendly and can be easily integrated into any business, math or family/consumer science class.

Basics of Saving and Investing: Investor Education 2020

The Basics of Saving and Investing is a curriculum entirely focused on investor education and protection. The Basics guide is divided into four units plus an appendix. The unit titles are: Getting Started, Introduction to Financial Markets, Making a Financial/Investment Plan and Investment Fraud. Each unit contains learning objectives, suggested activities, overheads, handouts and worksheets. The appendix contains additional resources — including noncommercial Web sites — and a glossary of terms.  

This curriculum matches up with some of the Kentucky Core Content areas in High School Practical Living/Vocational Studies, such as Consumerism PS-HS-3.1.01 and 3.1.02 and Financial Literacy PH-HS-3.2.01, which specifically states “students should learn to apply financial management practices, including … investments (savings accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, certificates of deposit, IRAs and 401Ks) … and explain their importance in achieving short- and long-term financial goals.

Teachers may receive a print copy of the Basics via mail by e-mailing contact information to Kelly May or calling 800-223-2579, ext. 252. Copies can be made from the print version to hand out to the class. In addition to the print version, a PDF version is available online at www.investorprotection.org/basics.

You may also find these accompaniments helpful:
Letter to Educators About the Basics [PDF 87K]
Using Basics to Supplement the Stock Market Game [PDF 92K]
Two Dozen Ways … Make Investing Basics Fun for Your Students [PDF 65K]

The ABCs of Credit Card Finance

OFI and the Kentucky Council on Economic Education have partnered with the Center for Student Credit Card Education Inc. to offer free information to high school and college students on responsible use of credit cards. This curriculum includes a free workbook for each student called “Essential Facts for Students” and also includes a “Trainer’s Guide” for the teacher. This curriculum offers essential information to help high-school students learn basic money and credit card management skills before they head to college or enter the workforce. Topics cover budgeting and credit card basics, from credit card costs and selecting the best credit card to credit card dos and don’ts, credit reports and more.

While supplies last, OFI and/or KCEE can provide a primer for each student in the class, as well as one handbook for the instructor. When print supplies run out, we can supply the materials in PDF version that can be printed for use in the classroom. A PowerPoint presentation to accompany this program may be downloaded from www.credit-edadministrator.com/materials/highschoolworkshop.php.

To request the curriculum in print or PDF form, contact Kelly May by e-mail or phone at 800-223-2579, ext. 252.

Classroom Speakers Available

OFI has personnel available to make in-school presentations regarding investing, saving, budgeting, lending, credit cards, financial fraud and other personal finance issues. Classroom presentations are usually based on the Money Smart series and “The Basics of Saving and Investing: Investor Education 2020” curriculum. If you would like a free copy of the teaching guide or a guest speaker for your class, please contact Kelly May by e-mail or phone at 800-223-2579, ext. 252.

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OFI offers free general financial literacy materials and workshops to high schools, libraries, adult community education centers, civic organizations and county extension offices. Topics cover budgeting, saving, credit, lending and investing. (For additional investing resources, see the Free Investor Education Workshops section of this page.)

Money Smart Curriculum

The Money Smart series is a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation curriculum designed to help adults enhance their money skills. The workshops currently offered include:
• “To Your Credit” (credit cards)
• “Money Matters” (budgeting)
• “Borrowing Basics” (different types of loans)
• “Pay Yourself First” (saving and investing)

The presentation time varies by topic, but generally it ranges from one hour to an hour and a half.

The ABCs of Credit Card Finance

OFI and the Kentucky Council on Economic Education have partnered with the Center for Student Credit Card Education Inc. to offer free information to high school and college students on responsible use of credit cards. However, this presentation can be appropriate for most age groups. OFI has speakers available to present this material, which takes about an hour to an hour and a half. Those interested in obtaining the free curriculum to incorporate into another class may contact OFI (see details in Free Financial Literacy Curriculums for Teachers).

Other Free Information

OFI maintains a collection of brochures for free distribution, and many of these are available on the OFI Publications page. For links to additional resources, visit the Consumer Information and Links page.

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OFI has personnel available to present our series of free investor workshops to your civic group or private organization, library, senior group, church or extension office. Education is the most effective deterrent against investment scams, and the need to assist Kentuckians in understanding investment opportunities is more important than ever. 

The elements of each workshop are basic, and beginning investors of all ages may benefit from the presentation. If interested, please contact Kelly May by e-mail or phone at 800-223-2579, ext. 252.

Savvy Investor Curriculum

The Savvy Investor workshop series is an adult investor education curriculum. The series was designed to provide Kentuckians with the basic understanding of securities investments. The workshops offered are “Selecting an Investment,” “Protecting Your Money” and “Getting Help with Your Investments.” Each workshop is approximately 60 minutes, and it is suggested that only one workshop be presented per seminar.

• "Selecting an Investment" guides the workshop participant on what to look for when choosing an investment.
• "Getting Help with Your Investments" teaches what to look for when choosing a stockbroker or financial adviser. In addition, it explains how to set up an investment account.
• "Protecting Your Money" instructs that the best defense against fraud is to avoid situations that can lead to the mishandling of your funds. The information covered in the workshop includes keeping track of your investments and staying alert to fraud warning signs.

Presentations for Senior Citizens

Unfortunately, many senior citizens are the victims of financial fraud. The first step in protecting yourself and your money from mishandling and theft is to know what form that abuse may take. OFI has speakers available to speak about the current financial scams aimed at seniors. There is no charge for the presentation, and take-home materials will be provided. In addition, the speaker may play Fraud Bingo with the seniors in attendance. Fraud Bingo is a fun educational tool produced for seniors to inform them how they can avoid being a victim of fraud. You can schedule a presentation, by contacting Kelly May by e-mail or by phone at 800-223-2579, ext. 252.

Basics of Saving and Investing: Investor Education 2020

The Basics of Saving and Investing is focused on investor education and protection. The Basics guide is divided into four units plus an appendix. The unit titles are:
• Getting Started
• Introduction to Financial Markets
• Making a Financial/Investment Plan
• Investment Fraud

OFI has speakers available to present this material. The presentation time varies based on the topic selected. Those interested in obtaining the free curriculum to incorporate into another class may contact OFI (see details in Free Financial Literacy Curriculums for Teachers).

Other Free Information

OFI maintains a collection of brochures for free distribution, and many of these are available on the OFI Publications page. For links to additional resources, visit the Consumer Information and Links page.

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Office of Financial Institutions
1025 Capital Center Drive
Suite 200
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: 502-573-3390
Fax: 502-573-0086
E-mail: kfi@ky.gov